Bicycle-skirt



Patented Aug. 30, I898. E. COTTRELLY.

BICYCLE SKIRT.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1897.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: a INVENTOR awa /Ma) 1 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ERNESTINECOTTRELLY, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NElV YORK.

BICYCLE-SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,032, dated August30, 1898. Application filed September 28, 189"?- Serial No. 658,309. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known thatI, ERNESTINE OOTTRELLY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at New Rochelle, VVestchester county, State of NewYork, have invented and made a certain new and useful Bicycle-Skirt forLadies Use and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description and specification of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

My invention relates to the class of ladies skirts calledbicycle-skirts, and is designed to remedy the inherent defects of suchskirts heretofore made and used, such as hitching or creeping up infront in riding a wheel, flopping in the wind and exposing the riderslimbs, and catching in the wheels and other faults which tend to soilthe skirt and endanger life; and my invention to this end consists in acertain construction and arrangement of folds or plaits and thecombination of elements fully set forth and claimed hereinafter in thisspecification.

In order that persons skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains may understand, construct, and use the same, I will proceedto describe it, referring to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of theskirt on a horizontal line drawn between the top F of the plaits E E andO O and the band A. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the skirt on ahorizontal line drawn below the top F of the plaits E E and O O andabove the elastic band G of Fig. 1.

. Aisthe usualsuspendingand securingband by which the skirt is fastenedto the waist of the wearer.

B is the material of the skirt, which is secured to the band A, shapedto fit the form of the wearer closely around the hips, and below thehips formed into plaits or folds O O at the front of the skirt, oneither side thereof, and D at the rear and into wind-guards E E at thesides, as shown in Fig. 3.

H are straps which button onto the outer portion of the folds or plaitsto hold them in place at the convenience of the user.

G is an elastic band which is attached to all folds or plaits, except D,onthe inner or under side of the skirt and serves to hold them in theirproper relative positions while riding a wheel and at the same timepermitting freedom of motion of the limbs of the rider.

F represents the upper edge of the plaits C O and the wind-guard E E,none of which reach to the upper band A.

The operation of the skirt in use is as follows: The skirt beingfastened and sustained about the waist of the user by the band A, theskirt hangs freely and presents the appearance of an ordinary plaitedskirt of or namental design; but when in use upon a bicycle-wheel thefolds O 0 permit free use of the limbs by their fullness. The plait orfold D spans the rear wheel, one fiap extending on either side thereof,while the middle portion covers the seat or saddle and the rider sitsupon it. The folds E E upon the sides add additional freedom to theriders limbs and constitute a windguard, as the outer portion of thefold tends toward the rearward in riding, and there is no tendency forthe wind to raise the skirt, but, on the con trary, it tends to keep itin normal condition.

The skirt in use does not creep or hitch up ranged under the outerportion of the skirt and only comes into use and in partial view when inuse on the wheel. At all other times it is covered, and the whole skirtlooks like an ornamental and useful skirt, and in use it cannot catch inthe wheels, as there is nothing in the skirt which comes in contact withthe wheels at any time.

As the front and side plaits reach-only to a little above the knees andbelow the hips, the skirt fits nicely the figure of the wearer.

The openings in the upper part of the skirt are placed each side of therear plait D and button up or are fastened by any ordinary means. 7

Having now fully described my invention and the manner in which I haveembodied it, what I claim as new and as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, a bicycleskirt consisting of the body13 5 waistband A,

wind-guards E, E, located one on each side below the hip portion of theskirt, the material of the rear portion being looped forward under thematerial of the front portion of the skirt and yieldingly secured to theskirt-body B, substantially as specified, whereby freedom of motion forthe limbs is provided for in riding, and interference with the limbs inWalking is prevented.

2. The within-described bicycle-skirt, consisting of the boclyB; theside folds or Windguards E E; constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially as specified, and the front double folds O, O; the frontfolds C, O, and the Wind-guards E E, being secured in normal position bythe elastic restraining-band G, attached to the inner or under portionsof said folds or plaits and adapted to permit cir-' cumferentialextension of the skirt material, in use on a bicycle substantially asspecified.

3. The within-described article of manufacture, consisting of theskirt-bodyB with its supporting-band A, folds E E, forming windguardslocated diametrically opposite each other, one on each side at and belowthe hip portion substantially as specified, the inner portion of eachfold being practically secured to the skirt by a suitable attachment asG, in such a manner that freedom of movement is provided for the limbsin riding a bicycle and interference with the limbs prevented inwalking, substantially as specified.

ERNESTINE COTTRELLY. lVitnesses:

ALFRED OOTTRELLY, JAMEs M. HIoKs.

